Last Sunday morning, without any warning, we lost my mom. She passed in my dad’s arms, with me right beside her.

I did everything I could to bring her back. I really tried. That moment lives in my mind and heart, and I know it always will.

She was the most loving mom. I know I’m biased, but I truly believe I am who I am because of her. My love for plants may not have started with her directly, but the way I care for them absolutely came from watching how deeply she loved and nurtured the world around her.

She taught me to be kind, to be patient, to always think of others before myself. Even if she didn’t always say the words out loud, I could feel how proud she was of me. Her love was always steady, always present.

Many of you came to know and love her as Mama UPT. She made her way into our community with that huge, joyful energy that made everyone feel welcome. She joined my lives often, and her presence brought so much laughter and happiness. Of course, her famous “Gor-juice” line became a running favorite. That simple, silly phrase lit up everyone’s day, and she knew it.

She wasn’t just my mom. She was everyone’s. So many of you treated her like your own, and she felt that love so deeply. I used to tell her, “You have fans, you know,” and she would smile so big it could light up the whole room.

Losing her so suddenly has left a space in our lives that is impossible to fill. My mom and dad were never just two people. They were one heart. And now we’re trying to figure out how to keep going without her.

This wasn’t something we were prepared for, and while we’re grieving, we’re also doing our best to navigate the many things that come with such a heartbreaking loss. So many of you have already reached out with kind words, food, flowers, donations, and little keepsakes to remember her by. I see all of it, even if I can’t respond to each message right away. Please know that your support means the world to us.

If you feel called to help with her funeral costs, we would be incredibly grateful. I know how much she meant to many of you, and your support helps us carry this weight a little easier.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for loving her. Thank you for loving us.